Update around Protest Activity within Southampton from Superintendent Charge – 10 June 2026
“Morning Everyone,
This is a further update around the Protest Activity within the City in the last 24-48 hours. Last night there was a “Flast” protest outside of the Highfield House Hotel, this is believed to be in respect of Asylum concerns, significant Police resources were put in place to manage this event and for public reassurance.
The event passed peacefully and was in all appearances very similar to the regular protests we have seen outside the Hotel, this included both a protest group and a counter protest group. There were approximately 130 people present. This was mainly a static protest but a group were prevented by Police from walking down Portwood High Street.
We do appreciate that whilst we have seen similar protests in the city for many months, we recognise there is a higher community concern following the Disorder on 02/06/2026.
You will continue to see both local officers and public order officers in the City in the coming days.
We continue to monitor for information around Protest Activity across the County.
If we have information that we think a significant protest will take place then we will seek to update your as soon as can, whilst we plan the Police response.
We are aware of a Protest that may take place on 20th June 2026 in Portswood. At present the details are not clear in terms of numbers and type of protest. We are aware of the specific concern of residents in St Deny’s Road and will be seeking to engage with those residents and feeding concerns into the planning process. There will be sufficient resources in place to manage any protest activity that happens.
Should you hear information about any protest please let us know, either by 101, contacting your local bobby details of which can be found here: Home Page – Hampshire Alert or if you think that any activity is imminent then use 999 and we will Triage any response.
Please continue to Reassure the Community that you are in touch with us and we will provide information as soon as we can related to any Activity.
Thank you to those of you who have reached out with kind words of support and appreciation which I am sharing with all of the many officers involved.
Thanks
Alex”
Hampshire & IOW Constabulary
The latest update on the protests from Superintendent Charge – 9 June 2026
“Morning All,
Please see below latest update from Supt Charge:
We are aware of the planned Protest outside Highfield House at 1800 hrs today.
We are planning and will have sufficient resources to deal with it.
There is nothing to suggest it is anything more than a resurgence of the protests we have had in that location.
We will come back to you with any updates when we can.
Best wishes,
Aleks”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
The latest update from Superintendent Charge regarding protest activity – 8 June 2026
“Below latest update from Superintendent Charge.
Afternoon,
I hope you had a peaceful weekend.
We continue to monitor social media and have seen protest-related activity in the past 24 hours, focusing on police stations, both locally and in other parts of Hampshire
Current position
- We are assessing the credibility and likely numbers linked to any protest activity
- Additional police resources remain in place across the city to respond to any gatherings
Our response
- If we receive reliable information about a planned protest or specific risk:
- We will contact you immediately
- We will deploy a significant police presence
- We currently have an increased number of officers on duty
- Carrying out visible patrols
- Supporting neighbourhood teams
- Providing reassurance to the public
- Assisting with arrests linked to the disorder on 02/06/2026
- Those people who have been arrested and charged have started going to Court and this has led to some Protest Activity outside Southampton Crown Court.
Community reassurance
- We recognise there is a high level of rumour and speculation, which may be causing concern
- Please continue to reassure your communities
- Police will remain highly visible across the city
- We are actively monitoring for any gatherings or emerging issues
Please stay in touch and if there is something that is concerning you let us know
We continue to plan for the Protest activity on 20/6 and I will update on the approach to that closer to the time.
Thanks,
Alex
Alex Charge | Superintendent 1079
District Commander for Southampton
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary”
*********************************************************************************
This email contains information which is confidential and may also be privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and any views or opinions expressed within are those of the originator and not necessarily those of the Force. If you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this email or the information contained is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error please forward a copy to informationsecurity@thamesvalley.police.uk and to the sender. Please then delete the email and destroy any copies of it. DO NOT use this email address for other enquiries as it will not be responded to, nor any action taken upon it. If you have a non-urgent enquiry, please call the Police non-emergency number 101. If it is an emergency, please call 999. Thank you.
*********************************************************************************
3 June 2026: Message from the Chief Constable of Hampshire and IOW Constabulary Alex Boon: “Response to violence and disorder in Southampton last night”
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
Response to violence and disorder in Southampton last night |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
The latest KINs message from the Police regarding upcoming planned protests over the Henry Nowak Trial – 31 May 2026
“Good afternoon,
See below the latest update from the Chief Inspector Chris Douglas:
Thank you for your continued engagement, support and commitment to the city.
I wanted to provide you with an update following recent protest activity within Southampton and outline the steps being taken to manage the ongoing situation.
On Thursday, a protest took place at Southampton Central Police Station, attracting approximately 80 individuals. The event passed without disorder and there were no arrests. A number of live streams were broadcast across several online platforms, including those linked to March for England and UK Sploosh. The associated online commentary has, at times, been negative towards policing, and we continue to actively monitor this.
The majority of online hate and threats are primarily directed towards policing and the officers involved in the incident, with very limited commentary targeting other parts of the community; however, this continues to be closely monitored.
Since the protest, there has been extensive engagement with key stakeholders, including community leaders, faith groups and local authority partners. This work remains a key priority to ensure reassurance, maintain trust and support community cohesion. I would also like to recognise the ongoing support of the local authority, particularly around engagement and security activity.
We are currently preparing for further anticipated protest activity, including a planned gathering at Portswood High Street Police Station today. We have sufficient policing resources in place and a well-established public order command structure to manage this safely and proportionately.
Alongside this, we are awaiting the sentencing outcome in the recent murder trial. We anticipate this may generate further attention and commentary, and we continue to track intelligence and online sentiment closely to inform our response.
Our priority throughout remains the safety of the public, the confidence of our communities, and the proportionate and professional management of any protest or related activity.
Given the current level of demand and ongoing activity, there may be times where responses to queries are not as prompt as we would like; however, we will endeavour to respond or ensure the right person makes contact.
If you have any information, concerns, or intelligence to share, please use the following routes:
- Emergency: 999
- Non-emergency: 101
- Online reporting: www.hampshire.police.uk
- Anonymous reporting (Crimestoppers): 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
- Community information sharing (CPI): www.safe4me.co.uk/portfolio/sharing-information/
Thank you again for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Chris
Chief Inspector Chris Douglas 23640
I have also attached details of the free faith security training in this email for your consideration – see below.
Best wishes,
Aleks”
Free Faith Security Training
The Home Office is pleased to announce the launch of Faith Security Training (FST) – a free security awareness scheme designed specifically for faith communities across England and Wales, which will be delivered on behalf of the Home Office by CDS Support.
This training will help you strengthen security practices, mitigate threats, and ensure your places of worship remain safe and secure.
Why take part?
- Gain practical knowledge to protect your congregation and premises.
- Learn how to identify and reduce risks before they become threats.
- Access expert-led training, developed with input from faith and security specialists, designed to ensure all faith communities achieve a foundational level of security knowledge and principles.
- Be part of the government’s Plan for Change, creating safer streets and stronger communities.
Who should attend?
Faith leaders, trustees, facilities managers, volunteers, and anyone with responsibility for security at your place of worship. The training is also suitable for any member of a congregation with an interest in improving security at places of worship.
How is training delivered?
- Face-to-face or virtual classroom sessions with direct access to security experts.
- E-learning modules available soon via ProtectUK for flexible learning.
The scheme is intended as an additional, fully optional resource that participants may draw on if helpful. It is designed to complement any existing security training that individuals or organisations have already undertaken.
Don’t miss this opportunity to upskill your community and safeguard your place of worship. Register now and take the first step towards a safer future. Together, we can support faith communities to stay safe and secure.
If you are interested in participating, please register here.
For further information, please visit the FST webpage, or email contact@cdssupport.uk.
Francesca Prior CMgr FCMI
Service Manager
Stronger Communities
Southampton City Council
Tel: 02380 917868
MOB: 07811165129
Email: francesca.prior@southampton.gov.uk
The latest KINs message from the police regarding upcoming planned protests over the Henry Nowak Trial – 28 May 2026
“Dear KINs,
Please see the latest update below from Chief Inspector Douglas:
I wanted to provide a brief update as we prepare for the protest taking place this afternoon at Southampton Central Police Station.
We have a significant policing operation in place, including specialist resources, to ensure public safety and support a proportionate response. Based on previous activity, we are anticipating reasonable attendance, although numbers remain uncertain given current levels of social media activity.
At this stage, there is no intelligence indicating that any specific communities or individuals are being targeted. The focus of protest activity remains directed towards policing.
We are aware of the potential for counter protest activity, although there is currently no intelligence to confirm this. This will continue to be monitored closely.
Based on the current intelligence picture, we do not anticipate any wider disruption to local services or the highway network.
Our approach remains measured and proportionate, with a focus on maintaining public safety, supporting lawful protest and minimising disruption. Business as usual policing will continue across the district.
We will maintain oversight of community impact and respond as required should the position change throughout the day.
If you have any concerns or issues you wish to raise, please respond via this mailbox which will be monitored throughout the day.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Kind regards,
Chris
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or if any issues arise—I am more than happy to help.
Best wishes,
Aleks”
KINs message from the police regarding upcoming planned protests over the Henry Nowak Trial – 27 May 2026
“Dear KINs,
I am writing to you as key representatives of our diverse communities to share an important message from Chief Inspector Chris Douglas. We recognise the vital role you play in supporting, informing, and engaging with your communities, and we are committed to keeping you informed so you can continue this work with confidence.
I wanted to provide you with a direct update regarding the ongoing Op Perceptive trial and the emerging protest activity within Southampton, alongside the approach we are taking locally to manage community impact and maintain public confidence.
You will be aware of the significant level of commentary being generated in relation to this case, including across social media and more widely. This is now translating into planned protest activity within the city on 28 May, 31 May and 6 June, with understandable concern being raised by communities, businesses and partners.
This remains a live and highly sensitive trial. As such, there are necessary constraints on what can be communicated publicly in order to avoid any risk of prejudicing proceedings. I recognise that this can create a challenging environment, particularly where misinformation is circulating, however it is essential that we maintain this position to protect the integrity of the judicial process.
From a policing perspective, we have a coordinated and comprehensive response in place across the force to manage the forthcoming activity. This includes appropriate planning for the protests themselves, alongside a strong local focus on community engagement, reassurance and maintaining cohesion across Southampton.
At present, there is no confirmed intelligence of significant escalation or organised counter-protest activity, however the picture remains dynamic and is under continuous review. Our approach is to facilitate peaceful protest, whilst ensuring that proportionate action is taken where required to prevent disorder or criminality.
Locally, our priority is maintaining confidence and stability across communities. To support this, we have implemented a structured engagement and information approach which includes:
- Proactive engagement with elected members, partners and community leaders
- Ongoing dialogue with Key Individual Networks and faith communities
- Engagement with the Polish community, recognising the background of the victim and the sensitivity associated with this case
- Close working with the University and student representatives
- Coordinated communication with council and partner organisations
We are also operating a centralised information and communications route to ensure that concerns, intelligence and enquiries are managed consistently and that emerging risks or tensions are identified early. Any issues identified will be shared through established partnership processes, including the daily risk briefing, to support timely awareness and escalation where appropriate.
Our current policing posture remains proportionate, with neighbourhood engagement maintained outside of protest dates and an appropriate presence in place during planned events. This will be adjusted if intelligence indicates increased risk to specific locations, individuals or communities.
We recognise that this situation is attracting considerable attention and discussion. I would emphasise the importance of maintaining a balanced and responsible approach during this period. As representatives of all residents, the way in which information is shared and discussed publicly will directly influence community confidence and cohesion. A fair, measured and evidence-based approach will be key to avoiding unnecessary escalation of tension.
We are committed to working closely with all partners to ensure a consistent and coordinated response. If it would be helpful, I would be very happy to speak directly to any of you to provide further context or address specific concerns.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Chris
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Aleks Drapala”
